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Pacers need to rebound against Sonics
By Conrad Brunner | March 10, 2008
For a team struggling at the defensive end, stops are too precious to give away by failing to finish the possession with the rebound. That's the dilemma facing the Pacers as they try to snap a three-game losing streak Tuesday against the Seattle SuperSonics.
In the streak, the Pacers have been outrebounded 146-109, a deficit of 12.3 per game. Opponents have grabbed 48 offensive rebounds and produced 63 second-chance points.
"We're not hitting people," said Coach Jim O'Brien. "We're not consistently pursuing with five people. And some of it has to do with the fact that we're playing against certain teams that are very, very good offensive rebounding teams and can hurt us. But throughout the year, prior to this last stretch of games, we were in the top five in defensive rebounding percentage so it's not like it's been killing us all year. That's a phase of the game we have to do a better job of executing."
It isn't just a matter of demanding more productivity from big men Jeff Foster and Troy Murphy, as well as Ike Diogu and/or David Harrison off the bench. If a perimeter player gets beat off the dribble, a big man must rotate out of position to give help. The perimeter player must then share the responsibility for rebounding. It's a collective effort.
"Our defense is based on help and if guys get beat and we go help then they need to return the favor and get in there and rebound," said Foster. "A lot of teams are shooting jumpers on us now and you know the old saying, 'when you miss a jumper it's going to go long,' so a lot of times rebounds are going over our heads and it's getting to that second tier where you've got to have somebody in there getting ready to rebound. It's a team effort and for whatever reason we've gotten smashed the last two or three games by big numbers. We've got to focus on it more."
Even with six losses in seven games, 16 in 21 and 26 in 35, the Pacers (24-39) are still in contention for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. In order to rebound from their slump, they must, well, rebound.
KEY TO THE GAME
Seattle (16-47) has lost four in a row and eight of nine and will be playing its sixth road game in 11 nights, so the Sonics not only will be battling confidence the confidence issues that are common with a struggling young team, but some very real physical fatigue. The Pacers must therefore adopt an aggressive offensive mindset, not settle for perimeter jumpers but attack the rim and push the tempo. Putting the Sonics on their heels literally and figuratively as quickly as possible is imperative.
TRENDS
In three games since scoring 36 in consecutive outings, Mike Dunleavy has totaled 37 points. … Marquis Daniels has averaged 9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.71 steals off the bench in the last seven. … Danny Granger has averaged 21.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, .442 shooting overall and .403 from the 3-point line since the All-Star break. … Troy Murphy has averaged 15.8 points on.520 shooting in the last 10 since the break. … Flip Murray has averaged 12.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in three games with the Pacers. … The offense has averaged 97.0 in the last three. … The Pacers tied a franchise NBA record-low with six free throw attempts Saturday in Cleveland. … The defense has yielded 107.1 points in 10 games since the All-Star break.
SERIES
The Sonics won 95-93 in Seattle on Nov. 30 as Durant scored 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, including 6-of-8 free throws in the final minute. The Pacers shot 7-of-26 from the field in the fourth quarter and .359 for the game. The Sonics have won the last three meetings and six of seven and lead the overall series 40-27 but the Pacers are 18-15 at home.
INJURIES
Pacers - F-C Jermaine O'Neal (bone bruise, L knee) and G Jamaal Tinsley (sore L knee) are out.
Sonics - C Robert Swift (R knee) is out.
